Chapter 261

261 The Time Has Come

“WAIT!” Elijah cried. “I... I didn’t mean to do anything bad!!!”

Ronan gritted his teeth. He grabbed Elijah by his collar and lifted him a few centimeters off the ground. The poor priest cried with fright as he flailed around in a futile attempt to free himself.

“Trying to murder my Luna is one thing, but denying the deed when you are caught red-handed is utterly shameless!”

Ronan threw Elijah easily to the ground like a ragged doll. Jake who had transformed back into his human form quickly seized him. Elijah’s hands were twisted together behind his back.

“You caught me red-handed trying to feed Lucien Clearwater something, but do you even know what it is? It is a cure! Yes, a cure!!!” Elijah sputtered, cold sweat running down his face.

“Ooh?” Kinnon raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

Ronan walked over to Lucien. He lifted his mate off the ground and carried him back to the Cleansing Pond.

“It is the truth!” Elijah cried. “It is not harmful at all! If... If you don’t believe me, I can drink it! You will see that nothing will happen to me!”

The poison only worked for fated mates. It did not work for normal werewolves with no fated mate connection.

.....

Even if he failed to kill Lucien, at least he could save his own life. Surely Madam Woodland would not begrudge him for his failure? He tried! He did not expect the two Alphas to sneak into the temple in the middle of the night!

“Pray tell, who has given you this miracle cure?” Ronan asked, his distorted visage hidden by the gigantic tree’s shadow.

“The... The... The High Seer did!”

If Elijah had known what came next, he would have kept his mouth shut and his head bowed.

“Is that so?”

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An unhurried voice rang out from the other side of the clearing, followed by the sound of a robe dragging across the grassy surface.

“After two hundred years, I guess I still cannot escape the curse of aging. Please remind me, Child, what kind of cure did I supposedly give you?”

Elijah’s mouth dropped open.

“High Seer...”

The High Seer wore an expressionless face as she gazed down at her subject.

“It pained me to experience this blatant betrayal of my own, Alpha Ronan,” she said. “Even though I saw it coming.”

Elijah struggled against Jake’s grip.

“High Seer, please,” he begged. “I have been your servant for over ten years. I admit my oversight. Please help me.”

The High Seer closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again, her eyes were blazing with cold glares.

“Attempting to murder a Luna is a heavy crime that is punishable by death. How do you presume to ask for mercy?”

“But...” Elijah shook visibly. “He is not even a Luna yet. He and Alpha Ronan have not even registered their wedding at the Werewolf Council, let alone set a date for the wedding ceremony in the Holy Temple!”

The High Seer heaved a deep breath and shook her head at her folly subject.

“As someone who has been serving the Moon Goddess for over ten years, you should have remembered that we are not average human beings but werewolves.

According to the rules that had been set hundreds of years ago, a Luna is an Alpha’s mate, not an Alpha’s wife. By our law, Lucien Clearwater has become the Luna of the Infinite Eclipse Pack months ago.”

The convicted priest froze on spot for a while before the knowledge set in. Once he realized that he was done for without a way out, he started to laugh frantically.

Once he was convicted of a crime, he automatically lost the protection of the Holy Temple.

Without a pack to back him up — no even if the Ironclad Claws Pack was willing to support him — there was no way he could go against the Infinite Eclipse Pack.

He was doomed!

Doomed!

“HAHAHAAHAHHA!!! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!”

Elijah’s maniacal laughter rang through the temple until he was dragged out of the clearing by Jake and Kinnon.

“Alpha Ronan, it is time,” the High Seer softly reminded him.

Above them, the full moon was shining brightly. Its soft light fell through the dense expanse of leaves, shining directly on Lucien.

The High Seer held a palm upward and a blade with a silver handle materialized from thin air.

She then pinched the tip of the blade and handed it over to Ronan.

Ronan took the blade from the High Seer and stepped into the Cleansing Pond.

Once he held his mate in his arms, a strong wave of sorrow and regret washed over Ronan again. One that he repressed for days. Adding to that was the numbing fear.

The High Seer laced her fingers together and watched Ronan.

“Is he going to be in a lot of pain?” The Alpha asked, his thumb brushing against his mate’s ice-cold cheek.

“Yes, but it will be the last time,” the High Seer confirmed. “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. You have to take the leap of faith in your mate’s stead, Alpha Ronan.”

“Alright,” Ronan gave her a stiff answer.

He did not have any other option. It was clear to him three nights ago as it was tonight.

Ronan held his beloved mate with one hand and the blade with the other hand, its pointy end hovering over Lucien’s beating heart.

With one swift movement, the knife dove into Lucien’s chest. It sunk deep, sending Lucien’s blood splattering everywhere.

Lucien’s eyes opened instantly. His mouth opening from shock, he clawed at Ronan’s arms desperately. Lucien’s body started spasming from the immense pain. Disbelief and pain were reflected in his beautiful eyes when he looked at Ronan.

Tears welled up in Ronan’s eyes.

“I love you,” the Alpha sobbed. “Lulu, I have to do this. I am so sorry.”

Lucien closed his eyes. A single tear escaped his eye as he sighed out his mate’s name, “Ronan...”

Then, his hands slid down Ronan’s arms and the remaining bit of life left his body.